Conditions in Europe's zoos are appalling. But now we can demand better regulations and animal welfare oversight. The exposé on display in Brussels.
A photographic exhibition portraying the conditions in which animals live in the approximately four thousand European zoos that, by law, should have biodiversity conservation as their primary objective, has been displayed at the European Parliament.
The exhibition was organised by the British NGO Born Free Foundation, which also arranged a meeting with MEPs to discuss in detail the directive concerning the keeping of wild animals in zoos and, in particular, the role of zoos and the welfare of their inhabitants. The photographs were taken at European facilities that do not appear to meet the standards set by the directive and the national laws that transpose it.
A revision of the directive is currently under way, which will assess its effectiveness, efficiency, coherence with other policies, and relevance within the body of EU law. Until 8 December, all citizens will be able to contribute to its improvement through an online questionnaire. This initiative forms part of a standard procedure applicable to all European regulations, but it is an opportunity not to be missed for those who want to change things.
The directive will then be evaluated against its explicit objective of "promoting the conservation of wild animal species (i.e. maintaining or restoring species to a sufficient level) and thereby strengthening the role of zoos in biodiversity conservation". The results will be published at the end of 2017.
In 2011, Born Free published a report produced following research conducted at dozens of European facilities. The findings were shocking and show how, in Italy for example, the legislation has been transposed correctly and even more stringently than required by the directive (page 18), yet the law is not being enforced, inspections are inadequate, and staff lack the expertise needed to run facilities as they should be run.
As regards Italian zoos, the vast majority appear to neglect the aspects of research, biodiversity protection, public education and reintroduction of endangered species — among the purposes expressly set out by the directive. These facilities are therefore operating outside the law. At the time of the investigation, moreover, 63 zoos — officially recognised as such — were operating without even a licence. A new report from the foundation is expected before the end of 2016.
In addition to failing to meet the objectives and purposes for which they were established, many zoos also fall short of the minimum animal welfare standards laid down by law. Daniel Turner, Associate Director for European Compliance at Born Free, stated: "Despite advances in knowledge of individual species and their biological needs, many animals in EU zoos are still kept in conditions that fall below the minimum standard."
We cannot know exactly what goes on inside the minds of these animals, but the poignant photographs displayed at the European Parliament show them in unnatural, degrading and soul-crushing conditions.
The Born Free Foundation's initiatives took place just days after two cases of animals escaping from their enclosures. The gorilla Kumbuka, who breached the boundaries of his enclosure at London Zoo in the United Kingdom, fortunately suffered no serious consequences and caused none, while for one of the two lions that escaped from their cage at Leipzig Zoo in Germany, the breakout proved fatal.
Referring to the London incident, foundation president Will Travers stated: "The risks are real for both animals and humans, and zoos are incapable of guaranteeing the safety of either. How many more incidents will have to happen before this problem is properly addressed?" We have the opportunity to have our say and demand that zoo regulations are enforced. We can do so now.